Abstract

The state is uniquely placed to determine how cultural heritage is used for tourism. Yet, even in highly centralized regimes, at times the central state is likely to respond to societal pressures and local government initiative in order to maintain its political hegemony. The paper explores the changing attitudes of China’s Communist Party-led national government toward cultural heritage and Confucianism, and the consequences of that shift for tourism and a Confucian ceremony at Qufu World Heritage Site. A gradual acceptance by central government of tourism and traditional cultural activities at the site is related to growing tensions and instabilities in Chinese society and to a slow decentralization of government policymaking.